Clamp



March 17. 1925. 1,529,867

R. W. BURNS CLAMP v Filed NOV. 9, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l mums March 17.1925.

R. W. BURNS CLAMP Filed Nov. 9, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT R:

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAYMOND W. BURNS, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES I...TAYLO'R MFG. 00., A CORPORATION OF NEIV YORK.

CLAMP.

Application filed November 9, 1922.

T alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAYMOND W. BURNS, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State ofNew York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clamps, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to bar clamps, such as are adapted to be used inclamp machines, and I have shown the invention applied to one of theclamps of a clamp ma.- chine, although I desire it to be understood thatthe invention can be applied to any bar clamp.

The objects of the invention are to secure an improved bar clamp forclamping stock fiatwise or on edge, as in veneering, or for clampingthick stock; to provide a rigid broad work support on which the stockcan stand on edge while being clamped together sidewise; to providebroad jaws which project upward from said broad work support in spacedrelation ready for clamping; to provide an upper connecting strip uponthe tops of the jaws; to make the clamping nut for one of two connectingstrips free to move with respect to its jaw upon unclamping, so that theclamping nut for the other connecting strip will positively move theadjustable jaw away from the work; to secure a connection of the upperconnecting strip to the rear adjustable jaw by which it can be removedand engaged again by mere insertion; to thus avoid any necessity for theoperator to reach back to the adjustable jaw to effect such engagement;to enable the means upon the adjustable jaw for engaging the twoconnecting strips to be operated simultaneously, and to obtain otheradvantages and results as may be brought out by the followingdescription.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals ofreference indicate the same parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective View showing the invention embodied in a clampmachine clamp;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same in central verticallongitudinal section except at its attaching end;

Figure 3 is a transverse section on line 38, Fig. 2, looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows;

Figure 4 is a transverse section on line Serial No. 599,781,

l-t, Fig. 2, looking-in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the lower portion of the fixed headfrom the rear, with one of the bars secured thereto, and

Figure 6 is a detail perspective View of a retaining member for thelower clamping nut.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in saiddrawings, 1 indicates a spanner foot which is disposed transversely ofthe clamp and extended upwardly from the same to provide a bearing 2 fora cross-rod 3 of a clamp carrier and also extended downwardly from theclamp to provide a fork 4 to receive another cross-rod 5. I have forconvenience shown sa d spanner foot as a means for connecting the iongitudinal angle bars 6, 6 of the clamp, although it will be understoodthat any other suitable and well-known form of foot or means for joiningthe ends of said angle bars or holding them in fixed relation to eachother, may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. l

The angle bars 6, 6 are also a specific form of bar which is forconvenience used to illustrate my invention, and other wellknown formsof bars may be employed. The angle bars shown are arranged in parallelrelation with two of their flanges vertical and adjacent and the othertwo horizontal and extending outwardly apart from each other to form awork table, and at their ends away from the spanner foot 1 the bars 6, 6

. are secured to a head 7, as by being riveted thereto by their verticalflanges and also by their horizontal flanges, as clearly shown'inFigures 1 and 2. The portion of this head 7 which lies between the barsspaces them the same as the foot 1, and that portion of the head whichoverlies the upper surface of the bars is wider and forms an upwardlyprojecting fixed jaw 8 against which the work is adapted to lie, seeFigure 2. The lower part of the head between the bar 6, 6 is aperturedlongitudinally of the same, said aperture being enlarged as at 9 toreceive a rotatable nut 10 which has a handle 11 at its front projectingend for turning and is provided adjacent the head with an annular flange12 to be engaged by a retaining member 13 to prevent longitudinalmovement of the nut, while permitting such free rotation.

The threaded. endl l of a connecting. strip enters said nut 10, saidstrip extending between the bars 6, 6 toward the foot 1 and serving toengage an adjustable jaw 16 to clamp the same toward the. fixed jaw 8.Preferably the rearwardly extending portion of the head 7 forms wings17, 17 at-- Qp.

The adjustable jaw 16 seats slidably upon I the work supporting surfacesof the bars 6,

6 and has arms 19, 19 extending downwardly betweenthe bars 6,6 adjacentthereto and connected at their lower ends'by a crosspiece 20whichnnderlies said bars 6, 6, said arms also having another cross-piece21 higher up between themselves which sup ports the connecting strlp 15,see F gures 2 and3. A bell cranklatch 22-mounted upon the adjustablejaw16 to swing verti-- cally normally has one of its arms 23 projected intoone of a series of apertures 24 in r the connecting strip 15' by aspring 25, as

said aperture lies above the upper crosspiece 21, to connect theadjustable jaw to said connecting strip; at the same time thisconnection can be released by swinging the latch 22ito withdraw its arm23 from the aperture 2 1, and thus the adjustable jaw may be setwherever desired for clamping purposes.

The construction thus far described c orresponds in a general way tothat shown in pending application Serial No. 508,029, filed August 10,1922, but in the construction of that application no means were providedfor clamping the tops of the fixed and adjustable jaws, toward eachother, such a clamp being adapted for comparatively thin work. In thepresent application a construction is provided for very thick stock'-1ng str p he'has only to push its rear end or work, and a feature ofthe invention is t'hatthe upper ends of the fixed and adjustable jawsare also provided with means for clamping them together, as well as thelower ends. proved clamp, it will be noted that the adustable jaw 16 hasat its top arms 26, 26

which project upward and are provided with a crosspiece 27 betweenthemselves which forms a slldeway for an upper connecting strip 28parallel to the lower connecting strip15 andhaving similar apertures 29.A. bell-crank latch 80 is'also mounted upon the adjustable. jaw 16 toswing vertically,

.andnormally its arm 31 is projected into i j possible embodnnentof theinvention, it Wlll one of the apertures, 29 of the connecting strip 28,by a spring 32, as said aperture lies beneath the cross-piece27, toconnect the ad- Describing this feature of the im ,justable jaw to'theupperoonnecting strip 28. The operating arms33, 34 ofv the two latchesextend toward each other, as shown in Figures .2 and3, and. thus theycan be readily grasped and operated by one hand, if the operator sodesired.

A, The upper end of the fixed jaw 8, or head 7, is constructed like thelower end, already described, having a narrowed middle extension 35which is apertured to receive loosely the threaded end 36 of the upperconnectingstrip 28, the aperture being enlarged at its end portion nextthe front of the head toreceive a rotatablenut. 37 with a handle 38 forturning. Wings 39, 89 extend rearward, with recessed guideways 40 forthe edges of the connecting strip extending forwardly through theadjacent smaller end portion ofthe aperture,-and while the nut 37' isprovided with a flange 41'toengage the front end of, the aperture, saidnut is preferably left free to move outward when slackened or unscrewed,This obviates any necessity for turning both the upper and lowerclamping nuts together, in clamping-and unolamping, and enables them tobe operated independently and A successively. For example, in clamping,the lower clamping nut 10 is set uptightand then the upper one 37 isclamped, and in unclamping, the upper nut 37 is first slackened and thenthe lower one 10 unscrewed to force the adjustable jaw away from thework. lVhile' I prefer to provide a retaining 'member' 13 for the lowerclamping nut 10, it could obviously be applied to the upper clampingnut37 and the lower ,one left free to move outward or forward, if desired,sincethe opposite ends 'ofthe head 7 are the same.

Furthermore, if" it is desired to remove theupper connecting strip 28entirely for the insertion of work or any other purpose,

1 it can be done'by disengaging-the latch 30,

and drawing the whole strip, with its cl amping nut 37, forwardly outthrough itsfaperture in the-top of the head 7. Then when the operatorreplaces said upper connect- .necting strip into'itsi place.

Also, the angle bar construction of the bars .6, 6 provides a broadsupporting surface for'work to stand .edgewiseupon wuzhout damaging itsedges, and at theasame ,time the fixed and, adjustable; jaw-sareienabled to be broad at their facing sides to engage the sides of thework.

While I have-shown. and described one be understood that this isonlyforthe, purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention andthat many modifications and changes can be made in thedetailconstruction without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.Therefore, I do not desire to be understood as restricting myselfexceptas required by the following claims when construed in the light of theprior art.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a clamp, the combination with a bar, jaws on said bar adapted tooppositely engage a piece of work, and means for clamping said jawstogether at their ends next said bar, of a clamping member for clampingtogether the other ends of said jaws, and means upon the tops of saidjaws for engaging said clamping member.

2. In a clamp, the combination with spaced angle bars having two flangesparallel and the other two diverging in the same plane to form a broadwork support, and broad work-engaging jaws on said bars, of connectingstrips for said jaws one at their lower ends and between said bars andthe other upon the middles of their tops, and means for moving saidconnecting strips longitudinally of themselves with respect to one ofthe jaws.

3. In a clamp, the combination with a bar, jaws on said bar adapted tooppositely engagea piece of work, and means for clamping said jawstogether at their ends next said bar, of a connecting strip for clampingtogether the other ends of said jaws, and means upon said other endsofsaid jaws one for holding said connecting strip when it is pushed intoengagement therewith and the other for moving said connecting striplongitudinally of itself.

4. In a clamp, the combination with a bar, a fixed jaw and a movable jawon said bar, and means for clamping said jaws together at their endsnext said bar, of a connecting strip for clamping together the otherends of said jaws, means on the movable jaw for holding said connectingstrip when it is pushed into engagement therewith, and means on thefixed jaw for drawing upon said connecting strip.

5. In a clamp, the combination with a bar, a front jaw and a rear jaw onsaid bar, and means for clamping said jaws together at their ends nextsaid bar, of a connecting strip for clamping together the other ends ofsaid jaws, means on the top of the rear jaw for holding said connectingstrip when it is pushed into engagement therewith, and means on thefront jaw for drawing upon said connecting strip.

6. In a clamp, the combination with a bar, jaws on said bar adapted tooppositely engage a piece of work, and means for clamping said jawstogether at their ends next said bar, of a connecting strip for clampingtogether the other ends of said jaws, a slideway for said connectingstrip on one of said jaws, means permitting insertion of said strip insaid slideway and holding it against withdrawal, and means on the otherjaw for drawing upon said connecting strip.

7. In a clamp, the combination with a bar, jaws on said bar adapted tooppositely engage a piece of work, and means for clamping said jawstogether at their ends next said bar, of aconnecting strip for clampingtogether the other ends of said jaws, a slideway on one of said jaws, alatch permitting insertion of said strip in said s'lideway and holdingit against withdrawal, and means on the other jaw for drawing upon saidconnecting strip.

8. In a bar. clamp, the combination with jaws adapted to oppositelyengage a piece of work, of connecting strips extending between theopposite ends of said jaws, and means for moving said connecting stripslongitudinally of themselves, one in both directions and the other inonly one direction.

9. In a bar clamp, the combination with jaws adapted to oppositelyengage a piece of work, of connecting strips extending between theopposite ends of said jaws, and means on one of said jaws for bothpulling and pushing upon one of said connecting strips and only pullingupon the other. 7

10. In a clamp, the combination with a bar, jaws on said bar adapted tooppositely engage a piece of work, of connecting strips extendingbetween the opposite ends of said jaws, and means for moving both saidcon necting strips longitudinally of themse ves, the one next the bar inboth directions and the one away from the harm only one direction. r

11. In a clamp, the combination with a bar, jaws on said bar adapted tooppositely engage a piece of work, connecting strips extending betweenthe opposite ends of said jaws, and means for moving both said.connecting strips longitudinally of themselves, the one next the bar inboth directions and the one away from the bar only in clampingdirection.

12. In a clamp, the combination of two jaws adapted to engage oppositeedges of a piece of work, connecting strips extending from one of saidjaws to the other at the opposite ends thereof, means on one of saidjaws for adjustably engaging said strips, and clamping nuts upon theother jaw engaging the other ends of said connecting strips, one of saidnuts being held against movement in either direction and the other freeto move in one direction.

13. In a clamp, the combination of two jaws adapted to engage oppositeedges of a piece of work, connecting strips extending for saidconnecting strip frorn'one of said jaws to the other at the oppositeends thereof, means on one of said jaws for adjustably engaging saidstrips, and clamping nuts 'upon' the other jaw engaging the other endsof said connecting strips, one of said nuts being held against movementlongitudinally of the strip in both directions and the other free tomove longitudinally backward when unscrewed.

14. In a clamp, the combination of a jaw having a seat and a wingprojecting longitudinally from said seat, said seat and wing having alongitudinal recess in the inner wall thereof, a clamping screw loose insaid seat, a handled nut on said screw at the front of the head, aconnecting strip extending rearwardly from said screw and having aprojecting lateral edge lying'in said recess to resist turning in eitherdirection, and a second jaw adapted to be engaged by said strip.

15. In a clamp, the combination of a jaw having at its opposite endsparallel seats with longitudinal recesses therein, clamping screws loosein said seats, handled nuts on said screws at the front of the jaw,connecting strips extending rearward from said screws and engaging saidrecesses to resist turning, and a second jaw adapted to be engaged bysaid strips.

1 6. In a clamp, the combination with a bar, aws on said bar adapted tooppositely engage a piece of work, and connecting strips extending fromone of said jaws to the other, of latches on one of said jawsforengaging said connecting strips, said latches arranged and adapted to beoperated either Separately or together.

17. In a clamp, the combination with abar, jaws on said bar adapted tooppositely engage a piece of work, and connecting strips extending fromone of said jawsto the other,of oppositely disposed latches on one ofsaid jaws between said connecting strips,

screw and having a projecting lateral edge lying in said recess toresist turning in either direction, and a second aw adapted to beengaged by said strip.

19.In a clamp, the combination of a jaw having a seat and a wingprojecting longitudinally from said seat, a clan-ipingsc-rew loose insaid seat, a handled nut on said screw at the front of the head, aconnecting strip extending rearward from said screw andhaving aprojecting lateral edge engaging said wing to resist turning in eitherdirection, and a second jaw adapted to be engaged by said strip.

' 20. In a clamp, the combination of a jaw having a seat and a wingprojecting from said seat,a clamping screw loose in said seat, a handlednut on said screw at the front of the head, a connecting strip extendingrearward from said screw and en gaging said wing to resist turning ineither direction, and a second jaw adapted to be engaged by said strip.

21. In a clamp, the combination with spaced bars forming a work support,and work-engaging jaws on said bars, of connecting strips for said jawsone at their lower ends and between said bars and the other at the topsof said jaws, and means for moving said connecting strips longitudinally of themselves with respect toone of the j aws. A

. RAYMOND Wt BURNS.

